Abstract: Shock absorbing structure for athletic equipment is disclosed in which a flexible air-tight fabric structure has an internal surface defining a cavity and an external surface adapted to be in fluid communication with the atmosphere outside the shock absorbing structure. The fabric structure includes a plurality of selectively dimensioned and disposed apertures which couple the cavity and the external surface of the shock absorbing structure in continuous fluid communication. A flexible foam portion having an open-celled structure defining a reservoir to releasably hold air is disposed in the cavity of the fabric structure and bonded, at least in part, to at least a portion of the internal surface of the fabric structure. In one embodiment, the flexible foam portion includes a multi-layered laminate of at least three open-celled foams of different foam density.

Abstract: A protective batting jacket is disclosed having a plurality of shock absorbing structures selectively positioned to be adjacent predetermined body locations of the batter to protect the batter from injury caused by a pitched ball. The shock absorbing structure includes a flexible air-tight fabric structure having an internal surface defining a chamber and an external surface adapted to be in fluid communication with the atmosphere outside the shock absorbing structure. The fabric structure includes a plurality of selectively dimensioned and disposed apertures for continuous fluid communication between the chamber and the external surface of the shock absorbing structure. A flexible foam portion having an open-celled structure defining a reservoir to releasably hold air is disposed in the cavity of the fabric structure and bonded, at least, to at least a portion of the interior surface of the fabric structure.